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Family of fallen city employee struggle for death benefits

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 09:00:00 GMT

NORMANDY, Mo. – Harold Parker died cutting down a tree in Normandy’s Hoelzel Park this past January. He was doing a public works job that his children never dreamed would cost him his life.“He was such a great guy. He had lots of kid, but they were all loved equally by him,” Parker’s daughter, Sky, told us days after losing their father, adding at the time, “He did what he needed to do to provide for his family.”Parker’s former employer however, the city of Normandy, has not even reimbursed Parker’s family for the minimum funeral costs that attorney Crista Johnson told us is laid out by law.“We have sent all of the receipts and bills to Normandy for this reimbursement,” she said. “We were told it shouldn’t be a problem back in March. That they should issue this right away. We are still yet to have any sort of reimbursement issued.”Johnson also filed in March for the family’s workers’ compensation death benefits, in which she says only Parker’s minor children are eligible. She says t...

Museums and local artists struggling to stay afloat, sees new hope with RAC multi-million dollar grant

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 09:00:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - With the help of the city, artists can now apply for a grant totaling $3 million, the ARPA funds, made possible through the Regional Arts Commission.There is a program that is benefiting both arts organizations and local artists. This grant has been made possible due to the Arts Revenue and Income Replacement Grants, which are a part of the American Plan Rescue Act.“It could make the difference between whether or not our doors are open, or whether or not our doors are closed," said Jacqueline Dace, executive director of St. Louis ArtWorks.It's an arts organization that allows youth the opportunity for a paid job-training program. It provides a platform for young people aged 14 to 19 to express themselves while also earning a living.Dace's fear is shared by many others, especially given the decline in funding for local artworks. It’s not just those putting paintbrush to paper who have been suffering. Illinois family still shaken after vandals poured oil into their pool,...

South St. Louis residents worry tree in neighborhood may cause serious harm

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 09:00:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS – South St. Louis residents on Neosho Street are fearful of a city-owned tree call our Your Paid For It team looking for assistance. With all the damage and death caused by falling trees in recent storms, the residents want the city to cut this one down.Lauren Price said she’s already felt the impact of falling branches from the tree.“Yes, it dented the top of my car. We had a really bad storm—what was it, two days ago—you never know. Like I work 12 hours coming home to a tree on my house, I would never know,” she said.Resident Sharon Rice is also worried about the tree. Falling branches have damaged her car too.“And I’m scared it’s going to fall down on somebody, hurt somebody, or fall on somebody’s car,” she said.Neighbors said they’ve been trying for a long time to get city hall to listen, that they’ve called time and again. Price said she’s tried calling dozens of times. Johnny Johnson execution taking place tonight “I would say probably 45 times, 55 times – yeah,” s...

New limited edition bourbon honors fallen St. Louis Marine; bottles for sale raising money for veterans

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 09:00:00 GMT

ST. PETERS, Mo. – There’s a limited edition, barrel pick bourbon honoring St. Louis area Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, who was killed during the Aug. 26, 2021, U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He was 20 years old.It’s called Devil Dog, inspired by the Marine Corps’ historic nickname. The label features Lance Cpl. Schmitz. The bottles are now on sale only at the Beer Sauce shop in St. Peters. All proceeds will go toward doing something incredibly special for our veterans.Bourbon fan “Smokey” Scott Sheeley sipped a sample Tuesday.“I’m picking up some oak, picking up some caramel. Smells like it’s got a little bit of heat, not much. I like it,” he said.Jared Schmitz’s father welcomes the review. The process of selecting, bottling, and now selling the bourbon has taken about six months. Illinois family still shaken after vandals poured oil into their pool, breaking window “This young man has made me so proud throughout his very brief life. To do something like this to honor him wa...

Rockies succumb to Juan Soto’s two home runs in 8-5 loss to Padres

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Peter Lambert was so close to starting August on a note worthy of his July.As he returned to the dugout in the fifth inning, he had conceded one run to the fearsome Padres lineup. But the bases he left loaded behind him posed a lingering threat to the Rockies, and to Lambert’s final stat line. Tommy Doyle was charged with facing Fernando Tatis Jr. and Juan Soto with one out.Doyle did a reasonable job with the first challenge, inducing a run-scoring groundout. Looking on, Lambert didn’t get so lucky a result from MLB’s perennial on-base king.The first of Soto’s two home runs, a three-run shot just left of center field, broke open a 5-1 Padres lead and resulted in an 8-5 loss for the Rockies on a wet Tuesday night at Coors Field. It also brought Lambert’s total to 4 1/3 innings, four earned runs. He didn’t allow a single earned run across three big-league starts and 14 innings in July.Ryan McMahon drove in four runs for the Rockies, including a thre...

3 men arrested for robbing victims of video gaming systems

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Three men have been arrested and face charges of robbery, conspiracy and weapons violations after robbing video gaming systems from victims attempting to sell them in Riverside County, authorities announced Tuesday.  On July 28, The Riverside Sheriff’s Lake Elsinore Special Enforcement Team and Robbery/Burglary Enforcement Team responded to two separate thefts that occurred in Lake Elsinore.  “The investigation revealed that the suspects arranged to purchase video gaming systems and games from the victims, who were selling the items via a social media application,” a RCSD news release stated. In the first incident, the suspects, identified as 21-year-old Davon Patterson Jr. and 18-year-old Edward Bullock, both residents of Perris, along with 18-year-old Moreno Valley resident Elijah Robinson, took the gaming system from the victim and fled the scene. In the second incident, authorities said the three suspects “forcibly” stole the victim’s property and, again, fled the...

Search continues for man who disappeared on Catalina Island

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Loved ones are searching for a Los Angeles County man who went missing on Catalina Island nearly two weeks ago.The man was identified as Jack Stanley Thomas, 55, by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Thomas also goes by the nickname, “Doc,” officials said.He was last seen on July 19 near Avalon Bay in the city of Avalon around 10 p.m. Avalon is the only incorporated city on Catalina Island.Thomas is described as a white man standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 220 pounds. He has gray hair, light-colored eyes, a full beard and eyeglasses.Authorities say the man might have possibly been headed to San Diego. Thomas' family has not heard from him since and is concerned for his well-being. They’ve released a photo of the man, hoping the public may have spotted him.Jack Stanley Thomas, 55, in an undated photo from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.Avalon Bay is located on the southeast end of Catalina Island and is a popular tourist destination about 22 miles of...

Twisted Metal, Good Omens 2 and Dolores Roach: Good vs. Evil TV

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Streaming services, cable TV and Primetime television are fighting for your viewership now more than ever. UNBINGED is here to help you weed through it all, with reviews of the latest shows that highlight what we love, what we hate and what we love to hate-watch, too.Sometimes the decision to be good or bad isn’t so easy. Usually, people reside in the gray areas. In three new adaptations, the nature of good vs. evil is turned upside down and inside out.  Based on a book, a play (and a podcast), and a video game, hot Summer shows including Good Omens, Twisted Metal and The Horror of Dolores Roach examine good people (or beings) who carry out questionable deeds for dubious reasons– or vice versa. Some are more successful than others. Good Omens 2 (Amazon Prime)There is a war brewing between Heaven and Hell, and Earth is the battleground. Sound exciting? It would be, if either side had an inkling of what the hell they were doing. As it stands, both sides are completely...

The 10 most expensive reported home sales in Danville, San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton the week of July 24

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 09:00:00 GMT

A house in Pleasanton that sold for $4.7 million tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Danville, San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton in the past week.In total, 47 residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $2.1 million. The average price per square foot ended up at $766.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of July 24 even if the property may have been sold earlier.10. $2.5 million, single-family house in the 1900 block of WestLagoon RoadThe sale of the single family residence in the 1900 block of WestLagoon Road in Pleasanton has been finalized. The price was $2,501,000, and the new owners took over the house in June. The house was built in 2004 and has a living area of 3,265 square feet. The price per square foot was $766. The house features five bedrooms and four bathrooms.West Lagoon Road9. $2.5 million, single-family home in the 3000...

Man arrested for assault of SF sandwich shop owner

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 09:00:00 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A man has been arrested in connection with the assault of a San Francisco sandwich shop owner, the San Francisco Police Department said Tuesday. KRON4 previously reported that Peterson Harter, owner of Sandy's, claimed he was punched in the face outside of his store. Harter, who had a black eye and a cut on his forehead when speaking to KRON4, said he was attempting to stop the man from urinating on the store's trash cans when he was punched on July 19. Naked woman who fired shots on Bay Bridge charged by SF DA “I love the neighborhood that we’re in and I don’t stand for something like that,” said Harter, whose New Orleans-inspired eatery is at 1457 Haight St. “I’m not gonna just let things go in this neighborhood. That’s not who I am. And so I called him out on it and I was walking back and he just hit me in the face.”SFPD identified 30-year-old Irvin Lara Rivera as the suspect. On Saturday, Rivera was seen in the area of 18th Street and San Carlos Street...